Negative ads, climate change, and North Korea. Your Tuesday morning political news rundown from UtahPolicy.com

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Good Tuesday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 220th day of the year. There are 145 days remaining in 2017.

Negative campaigning takes center stage in a 3rd CD GOP debate. A new report on climate change says we're already feeling the effects of a changing climate. North Korea threatens to use nuclear weapons against the United States.

The clock:

• 7 days until the 2017 Utah primary election (8/15/2017)
• 91 days until the 2017 election (11/7/2017)
• 167 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 212 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 455 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,183 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR -

• NEW POLL: Nearly half (49%) of Utahns say that the controversies surrounding Donald Trump's White House make them nervous for the future of the U.S. The same number say they're not bothered by those controversies [Utah Policy].
   
• Sen. Orrin Hatch caused some pearl clutching when he said the GOP "shot their wad" on health care, and it was time to move on to tax reform. Hatch's office pointed out that the colorful phrase had origins in the Civil War [Utah Policy].
   
• Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz apparently does not understand irony. He is blasting Congress for leaving town early for their August recess, completely ignoring the fact that he himself left Congress early [Utah Policy].
   
• LaVarr Webb argues that Democrats are hurting their chances to make electoral gains by drifting leftward [Utah Policy].
   
• The three candidates in the GOP 3rd CD primary, John Curtis, Chris Herrod, and Tanner Ainge, get feisty over negative campaigning during their latest debate [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Gov. Gary Herbert records a radio ad supporting John Curtis in the 3rd CD GOP race. The commercial praises Curtis for taking the "high road" in the face of negative advertising from outside groups [Deseret News].
   
• When Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams spent time as a homeless person in downtown Salt Lake City, what he saw there so moved Draper Mayor Troy Walker that Walker offered to host one of four homeless shelters proposed for Salt Lake County. That offer fell through after Draper residents protested the idea [Deseret News].
   
• Sen. Daniel Thatcher wants to turn hundreds of crimes in Utah into simple infractions, removing the threat of jail time for the minor offenses [Fox 13].
   
• Utah lawmakers will consider a number of proposals during the 2018 session to crack down on fireworks, including a total ban [Tribune].
   
• A national term limits group has opened a local office in Utah [Tribune].
   
• The Huntsman family says they haven't had any contact with the University of Utah about a new agreement for the Huntsman Cancer Institute since a dispute over governance and funding of the organization erupted in April [Tribune].
   
• The Utah Transit Authority is changing bus and train schedules this Sunday [Tribune].

National headlines:

• A draft report on climate change says the past few decades have been the hottest in 1,500 years and humans are already starting to feel the effects of climate change. The report is awaiting approval by the Trump administration but was leaked by scientists who are worried the White House would suppress its findings [New York Times].
   
• North Korea continues to lash out against harsh new economic sanctions. The regime threatened to use nuclear weapons against the United States, and would not negotiate on its nuclear weapons programs [Wall Street Journal].
   
• New polling shows Donald Trump's support is starting to slip, even among his most loyal supporters [Associated Press].
   
• Here's a fascinating play-by-play of the plane ride where President Donald Trump decided to fire White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus [New York Post].
   
• A group of anti-Trump independent candidates is banding together to possibly launch 2018 campaigns to take on Trump supporters in Washington. The group includes former presidential candidate Evan McMullin, who is mulling an independent bid against Sen. Orrin Hatch next year [Politico].
   
• Those in glass houses...Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller, who blasted a reporter for being "cosmopolitan" actually lives in a million-dollar condominium in one of the most upscale areas of Washington, D.C. [Washington Post].
   
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture is censoring the use of the phrase "climate change" among staffers [The Guardian]. 
   
• Google has fired the employee who authored a controversial 3,300-word memo railing against diversity hiring in the tech industry [Recode].

On this day in history:

• 1844 - Brigham Young was chosen to lead the Mormons following the killing of Joseph Smith.
   
• 1876 - Thomas A. Edison received a patent for the mimeograph.
   
• 1945 - President Harry S. Truman signed the United Nations Charter.
   
• 1974 - President Richard M. Nixon announced he would resign following damaging revelations in the Watergate scandal.

Today At Utah Policy

Nearly half of Utahns say Trump makes them nervous
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Well, you can't get much more of a populace split than this: 49 percent of Utahns say the way GOP President Donald Trump is acting is making them nervous about the future of the United States....

Opinion shorts: Tax reform, leftward we go, & U.S. angst
By LaVarr Webb, Publisher
Democrats "compromise" on tax reform. James Freeman in the Wall Street Journal notes that Democrats in the U.S. Senate say they want to compromise on tax reform, but have already rejected any tax cuts that include the upper class....

Jason Chaffetz, who left Congress early, is ripping Congress for going on recess early (with video)
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who retired from Congress early, is slamming Congress for not staying in session through August. Apparently, Chaffetz doesn't understand irony....

Hatch causes social media firestorm by saying GOP 'Shot their wad' on health care
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Sen. Orrin Hatch sent social media into a flurry on Monday morning when he used a colorful phrase to describe the Republican-controlled Congress' failure to pass legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act....

Policy News

Utah governor appoints new SLCC trustees
Utah Governor Gary Herbert appointed Lori Chillingworth, Linda Luchetti, and Brady Southwick to serve on the Salt Lake Community College Board of Trustees. Shawn Newell represents the SLCC Alumni Association and SLCC Student Association President Aynoa Rincon represents the ...

U.S. Term Limits launches Utah chapter
U.S. Term Limits has launched a fully staffed and operational chapter in Utah to continue the progress that Democrats and Republicans have made to reign in the powerful in Washington, DC by imposing congressional term limits....

The Fox Files: 'Coopetition'
In this community, we are proud of our ability to collaborate and cooperate. Indeed, I believe those values are Utah's calling card in the marketplace. But one of the things we don't talk about all that often is our unique ability to "coopete." ...

Getting the best out of your brand ambassadors
An Outdoor Industry Breakfast & Business Discussion presented by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, SnowSports Industries America (SIA), and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDC Utah)...

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: A success-driven city should start with infrastructure

Editorial: McAdams does his due diligence on homeless crisis

Despite making up half the population, women often missing from Wasatch Front city halls

Lawmakers to take up new fireworks proposals - including a statewide ban

Rolly: Utah cases show three reasons why Mike Lee is right and Jeff Sessions is wrong on asset forfeiture

Schedule changes coming Sunday to UTA bus, rail lines

Candidates snipe and gripe during debate in race to replace Chaffetz

U.S. Term Limits opens Utah office - figuring state needs it after electing Orrin Hatch for 40 years

Boston Celtics manager Danny Ainge sat in a dunk tank to raise money for son's Utah campaign

Deseret News

Op-ed: Why we support Chris Herrod for Congress

Op-ed: In defense of moderation in politics

Op-ed: It's time to invite Sen. Orrin Hatch to come home

Boyd Matheson: $20 trillion in debt? Crucial conversation time for Congress

Editorial: Only a system that preserves choice and competition can safeguard against Charlie Gard case

Gov. Gary Herbert pleased John Curtis is taking 'high road' in Congressional primary race

Sparks fly over negative campaigning in 3rd District GOP primary debate

S.L. County mayor's night in shelter fueled Draper mayor's compassion, then controversy

Other

Danny Ainge helps at fundraiser for son in congressional race (Daily Herald)

Kaysville inquiry into $13K found in public works safe uncovers no misdeeds (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Bakers refused to make pro-Trump birthday cake for 9-year-old boy (Washington Times)

Brock plots media-assault on Trump (Media Equalizer)

U.S. Is Sending More Marines to Afghanistan (NBC News)

U.S. May Begin Airstrikes Against ISIS in Philippines (NBC News)

Maxine Waters Won't Rule Out All-Black Party (Daily Caller)

Miami-Dade complied with Trump to change its 'sanctuary' status. It worked (Miami Herald)

Trump Administration Revises Conservation Plan For Western Sage Grouse (NPR)

Transgender day camp to include 4-year-olds (ABC News)

Trump thanks service members to mark Purple Heart Day (Los Angeles Times)

Google has fired the employee who penned a controversial memo on women and tech (Recode)

Anthem to pull out of Nevada health-care exchange (Washington Post)

Wise Words

Obstacles

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Henry Ford

Lighter Side

Immigration

"President Trump announced a new immigration plan that will favor people who speak English. Which is why tonight, he had to deport himself. "I am BIGLY, BIGLY sad!" Jimmy Fallon